AUS
NZ
UK
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USA
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GER
ESP
ITA
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Summary
- Experts predict the restrictions to last until February with more than 35,000 cases recorded on Thursday
- England faces tougher restrictions from tomorrow with parts of east and south-east moving into tier 3
Scientists expect the next two to three months to be harsh with rising coronavirus cases. 35,383 positive cases were recorded along with 532 Covid-19 deaths in the UK yesterday. This was an increase of 10,222 cases on the previous day. But the Thursday’s number included a backlog of 11,000 infections from Wales along with a rise in the infection rate in various parts of the nation. The relaxion during the Christmas period is likely to fuel the spread of the virus, said the experts.
Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow, University of Southampton said that Britain’s coronavirus landscape would be getting worse before it improves and the coming two or three months are likely to be tough. With almost 1700 daily hospital admissions and a 600 daily death toll, the Christmas period could add further pressure on the national health services, he added. So, heavy set of restrictions are likely to be in place at least until February next year, explained Head.
By that time, the vaccine would have hopefully rolled out in much higher numbers across the nation. More vaccine candidate licenses would also have been granted by then. Till now, 13800 out of 25 million people have received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine across nine priority groups in the UK.
With more restrictions being put in place, and a higher number of areas being moved into tier 3, the tide is expected to turn, but it may take some time before the impact can be seen, a trend similar to what was observed after the spring lockdown was imposed.
After Easter, as the weather improves, things could look up as more people would be able to meet outdoors, added the experts.
Tougher restrictions in England
England would face a tougher set of restrictions from tomorrow with parts of east and south-east moving into tier 3 level. This will bring in more than two-thirds of the nation’s population under the highest level of coronavirus measures, up from 41 per cent until now. Matt Hancock, the health secretary of the UK had announced tightening the rules across these regions on Thursday.
The tier 3 allows pubs and restaurants to remain open merely for takeaways. Moreover, it does not allow households to mix indoors or even outdoors except for public areas such as parks. These strict rules will contain the spread of the virus and people should abide by them, insisted Hancock.
The Downing Street had informed on Thursday that even though it is not on the cards right now, but a third national lockdown can’t be totally ruled out. The British government had decided the new tier-areas based on the level of Covid-19 cases and recent trends.
